Video: Bucs Insider Jenna Laine Talks Schiano, Dominik Firings

The writing may have been on the wall for Greg Schiano after Sunday’s 42-17 loss to the Saints, but that doesn’t mean players truly believed change was coming. Schiano briefed them in a 10:00 meeting Monday morning, talking about plans for the future and encouraging them to prepare their bodies for next season by getting some rest.

“I woke up this morning fully-focused on the future, leading the Buccaneers to championships, and that’s what I tried to express to our players, that I was proud of the way we handled everything this year,” Schiano said of the meeting. “I did not know this morning when I met with the squad. You never know. I’m not naïve either. This is the National Football League and they brought me here to win.”

Schiano and Dominik were unable to do that. They were called into the office for a meeting with ownership shortly after, which is when they learned of the news — news that spread so quickly on social media that some players found out through Twitter.

“We didn’t get it done, and I accept full responsibility for that. I’m the head football coach and it didn’t work. But having said that, I’m really, really proud
of our coaches and players and the way they hung together, fought through adversity,” Schiano said.

“Adversity, there was plenty of, and never was there any finger pointing and never was there that stuff that goes along with it sometimes. I’m proud of that. I’m proud of the culture that we’ve developed here. In two years, I’m really proud of that.”

For Dominik, it was the end of nearly two decades working with the organization, in which he started as a pro personnel assistant and worked his way up to G.M. five years ago.

I have appreciated my 19 seasons as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During that time, Tampa has become home for me and my family,” Dominik said in a statement issued by the team. “I have been blessed over the years here to work with some of the brightest minds of the game. All told, I have worked with seven men who have served as general managers and 10 who have been head coaches in the National Football League.”

“Winning SB XXXVII under the direction of head coach Jon Gruden and general manager Rich McKay was an experience I will never forget. I believe that this team is well positioned for success in the future and I would like to express my gratitude to the Glazer family for the opportunity they provided me nearly 20 years ago to grow and succeed in the NFL.”

At Sports Talk Florida, we strive to use creativity and innovation to introduce our followers to new and distinctive angles. Our mission has always been to measure success through the growth and development of our talent and our client partners.